Arms dealers emerge big winners in Europe’s refugee crisis: A new research by the Transnational Institute, indicates that firms that provide Europe with security infrastructure to deal with the refugee influx are among the biggest arms sellers to the areas of conflict that have the largest outflow of migrants. (The Wire – 04/07/2016)

EU development aid to finance armies in Africa: According to this article, the European Commission plans to finance foreign armies in partner countries as part of a larger effort to stop people from fleeing to Europe, including in countries with poor human rights records. (EU Observer – 05/07/2016)

Smugglers ‘harvest’ migrants’ organs if they cannot pay fare: A testimony from an Eritrean smuggler arrested in Italy in 2014, reveals that African migrants who cannot pay for their passage are killed for their organs which the smugglers sell for up to USD 15,000 to wealthy Arabs. (The Australian – 06/07/2016)

Network smuggling people from terror hotbeds to the Americas busted: Central American authorities dismantle a criminal network which smuggles migrants into the United States from countries in Africa, Asia and Middle East. Migrants reportedly paid $7,000 to $25,000 for the entire trip into the United States. (Breitbart News – 11/07/2016)

After Warsaw: A 3-point plan to manage migration through Libya: The author of this opinion article proposes a three point plan to manage the influx of migrants through Libya. These include signing a MoU with countries on both sides of the Mediterranean to manage the crisis on sea, supporting Libya to rebuild its judiciary and security system and multilateral agreement with countries of transit and/or origin south of Libya. (ECFR – 12/07/2016)

East Mediterranean migrant arrivals in June drop by 95% compared with 2015: In a statement released by Frontex, the number of migrants arriving via the eastern Mediterranean route in June decreased by 95% compared with the same period of last year. This is attributed to the stricter border controls and the EU-Turkey migrant deal reached in March 2016. (Sputnik News – 19/07/2016)

Thailand deports Cambodian migrants: More than 280 Cambodian migrants have been deported from Thailand in July 2016 for illegally living and working in the country. Authorities announced that they would start a nationwide crackdown on illegal migrants in industrial zones, noting that the number of illegal migrant workers was out of control. (Khmer Times – 25/07/2016)

Over 3,000 migrant drownings since beginning of 2016: IOM indicates that the year 2016 might be the deadliest for Mediterranean crossings due to the death rate which has risen significantly compared to 2015. More than 3,000 people have lost their lives while trying to reach Europe since the beginning of the year. (DW News – 26/07/2016)

UNICEF: Europe fails to protect refugee children: In a statement to the media, UNICEF expresses concern over unwillingness by European countries to take responsibility for dealing with unaccompanied migrant children arriving in Europe. "Investments in protection services are going to pay off for the children and their families, as well as for the communities in the long run." Read the statement. (Sputnik News – 26/07/2016)

Colombia to deport hundreds of Cuban immigrants: Colombian government is set to launch a repatriation program targeting hundreds of migrants from Cuba along with those from African countries. Many migrants transit through Colombia and other Central American countries in an attempt to reach the US. (PanAm Post – 27/07/2016)

Climate victims - every second, one person is displaced by disaster: According to Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) about 26 million people are displaced by disasters such as floods and storms every year, even though climate change and related extreme weather events receives a tiny fraction of mainstream media attention. In 2015, more than 19.2 million people fled disasters in 113 countries. (All Africa – 27/07/2016)

US and Mexico's mass deportations have fueled humanitarian crisis, report says: A report by International Crisis Group (ICG) indicate that mass deportations and inadequate asylum procedures in Mexico and the US have fuelled a humanitarian crisis where desperate Central Americans fleeing violence are routinely preyed upon by criminal gangs and corrupt officials. In 2015, Mexico deported 165,000 Central Americans, while the US expelled 75,000. (The Guardian – 28/07/2016)

In the same boat, but not in reality: This article by the Norwegian Refugee Council explores why refugees and other migrants are treated differently on arriving in Europe, even though most of them arrive in the same boats. The article notes that in most countries, entitlement to protection is based on definitions in international conventions. (NRC – 28/07/2016)

Hungary sentences 10 migrants for illegal border crossing: A Hungarian court sentences 10 migrants to jail terms for illegally crossing the border during a riot in September 2015, after Hungary built a razor wire fence to seal its frontier with Serbia. The migrants will be expelled after serving their terms and barred from re-entering Hungary for several years. (The Star – 01/07/2016)

People leaving Egypt to Italy doubled in past year: Frontex expresses concern over an increase in departures from Egypt to Italy noting that more people are likely to die because the journey via the Mediterranean Sea takes more than ten days. (EU Observer – 01/07/2016)

Amendments to Swedish law leave about 1,700 asylum seekers homeless: According to this article, an estimated 1,700 unsuccessful asylum seekers were left on the streets in Sweden following an amendment to asylum rules which cut off access to accommodation and daily monetary allowance to rejected asylum seekers. (Sputnik News - 06/07/2016)

EU Parliament green-lights new border guard agency: The European Parliament endorses plans for a new border and coastguard agency to help manage thousands of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing to Europe. This is part of the measures under the European Agenda on Migration to reinforce the management and security of the EU’s external borders. (Malta Today – 06/07/2016)

EU list of safe countries of origin to replace national lists in 3 years: EU parliament endorses a decision to establish a common list of safe countries of origin, to help member states process asylum applications faster and consistently. The common list will replace current national lists after a three year transition period.(European Parliament News – 07/07/2016)

EU to propose new refugee law: The European Commission is set to unveil a new plan to resettle refugees from outside the EU to member states. EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the EU wants "a structured common system to pool European resettlement efforts more systematically." (EU Observer - 08/07/2016)

Almost 96,000 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in EU in 2015 – agency: The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) annual report indicates that a total of 95,985 unaccompanied minors applied for international protection in EU in 2015. According to the report, unaccompanied children accounted for 7% of total number of asylum seekers registered in same period. (RT News – 08/07/2016)

Austria ready for 100km border fence with Hungary: Austria is set to build a 100 kilometre fence along its eastern border with Hungary in efforts to prepare for a possible repeat of last summer when thousands of asylum seekers and migrants arrived in Europe. (The Local Europe – 22/07/2016)

Internet in Greek migrant camps as important as food, water: aid groups: According to NetHope, an alliance of aid group and tech companies that provide ICT services during humanitarian crisis, most asylum seekers and migrants in Greece’s camps firstly ask for internet access or where to charge phones and not whether there was food or water. Migrants use internet to plan their journeys, apply for asylum or communicate with their families and friends. (Reuters – 22/07/2016)

EU relaxes trade rules with Jordan to create jobs for Syrian refugees: The EU has reportedly relaxed trade rules with Jordan in return for allowing thousands of Syrian refugees to work in its companies. Jordanian manufacturers that employ Syrian refugees will pay less or no duties on many of their export to EU for the next ten years. (Reuters – 21/07/2016)

Hungary launches new anti-migrant media offensive: Ahead of a referendum in October on EU relocation programme, Hungarian government launches a media campaign blaming the recent terrorist attacks in Europe on the refugee crisis. (Breitbart News – 20/07/2016)

Amnesty International warns Germany over deportations: Amnesty International caution the German government that deporting migrants to ‘crisis countries’ could be a clear violation of international law. This follows calls by politicians across Germany for stricter asylum rules and hastening of deportations. (Breitbart News – 28/07/2016)

Egypt

Egypt facing 'unprecedented' challenges to human rights: NCHR report: The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) releases a report which among other issues details human rights violations faced by Egyptians working in other Arab countries. These include unjust dismissal from work, undocumented immigration, human smuggling and trafficking and death. (Egypt Independent – 03/07/2016)

Ethiopia’s earnings from remittances on the rise: Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs ministry announces that remittances are growing at unprecedented levels. The country received $4 billion in 2016, exceeding the country’s trade export earnings. In 2015, Ethiopia received $3.7 billion from remittances. (Sudan Tribune – 25/07/2016)

Ethiopian survivors of deadly smuggling tragedy in Zambia return: IOM provides voluntary repatriation assistance to 25 stranded Ethiopians intercepted in Zambia while trying to reach South Africa. The returnees were among the 79 survivors found in a containerized truck that claimed the lives of 19 Ethiopian migrants in June 2016. (NBE – 27/-7/2016)

Israel yet to approve single asylum request in 2016 as 15,000 wait: A freedom of information request submitted by Amnesty International and a local media to the Israel government reveals that Israeli government continues to reject almost all asylum requests it receives, despite thousands of African asylum seekers waiting for an answer, some for years. (Newsweek – 21/07/2016)

IOM repatriates stranded Guinean migrants from Libya: IOM in collaboration with Guinea’s Embassy in Libya facilitate the voluntary repatriation of 173 stranded Guinean migrants from Libya. Most of the migrants had been detained for months at the Abu Sleem detention center near Tripoli. (IOM Press – 15/07/2016)

Migrants rescued on journey from Libya to Europe: Thousands of migrants are rescued in a single day by joint EU naval forces as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya. Most of the migrants originated from Eritrea, Nigeria, Somalia, Gambia, South Sudan, Pakistan, Egypt, Mali and elsewhere. (Libya Prospect – 22/07/2016)

16 girls rescued from human traffickers: South Africa authorities rescue sixteen girls from a human trafficking ring in Kempton Park and detain four suspected men. Some of the girls had been kidnapped and others lured with a promise of jobs. (ENCA – 16/07/2016)

Sudanese force arrests '300 illegal immigrants' near Libya: Sudanese authorities announce the arrest of more than 300 migrants who were heading to Libya across the desert in the Northern State. Sudan has deployed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in northern Sudan to curb human and drug trafficking by criminal networks. (All Africa – 05/07/2016)

Sudan’s RSF militia arrests 600 illegal migrants near Libyan and Egyptian border: Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announce that they have intercepted about 600 Ethiopian illegal migrants near the country’s border with Libya and Egypt. Earlier this year, the EU granted Sudan a 100 million euro development package to address the root causes of irregular migration in Sudan. (Sudan Tribune – 31/07/2016)

Uganda

Interpol warns Ugandan migrant workers: Interpol in Uganda expresses concern over the abuse of Ugandan migrant workers, which has sometimes led to deaths, by their employers, especially in Gulf countries. In 2015, at least 10 women reportedly lost their lives at the hands of their employers. (The African Report – 07/07/2016)

4,000 South Sudanese flee to Uganda daily: The UNHCR reports that at least 4,000 South Sudanese nationals are fleeing to Uganda every day following an escalation of conflict in South Sudan. (The African Report – 26/07/2016)

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